Compiled by the national branch of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) report is part of a global initiative that documents the implementation of the Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding.
It has been completed in over 100 countries so far and Portugal is one of the first 11 European countries to complete the report and make its findings public.
The report is “unique in that it identifies gaps but also it creates strategies to bridge the gaps and it documents their progress whilst bringing people together from various fields of speciality.”
IBFAN’s Portugal Coordinator Jacqueline de Montaigne told The Portugal News the findings have “been surprising but interesting.”
“The overall findings were positive but we still have a long way to go. [Portugal’s] policies and programmes on infant and young child feeding in HIV+/AIDS situations is exemplary at an international level but then we are way behind other countries on the fact that we don´t have a National Breastfeeding Committee to coordinate or monitor initiatives in this area in the country and we don´t have infant and young child feeding guides for emergency situations or even for normal situations which is of great concern”, she reflected.
Ms. de Montaigne said Portugal has “a few policies and programmes but it isn´t enough or the same as having policies and programmes that are actually implemented in their totality and of good quality so a lot of what exists needs to be reviewed and improved.
“Exclusive breastfeeding rates for the first six months are low here and should be increased to meet World Health Organisation guidelines so extending maternity pay in full for six months would support this, amongst other things like a national pro-breastfeeding campaign and access to evidence-based information on the subject.”
Divulged to the public on Monday in Lisbon, IBFAN’s Portugal Coordinator said the presentation had been “a great success” and having the backing of Dra. Ana Jorge “was very important as she is very experienced in this area.”
Ms. de Montaigne elaborated that the report “wasn´t easy to complete as information wasn’t easily obtained or then on a few subjects, no one really knew who was responsible for what at a national level.
“We did get full cooperation from the Direção Geral da Saúde but it was last minute and not all the indicators come under their jurisdiction.”
IBFAN is currently in talks with other organisations with a view to collaborating “so that we have multi-sectoral partners for the creation and implementation of new policies and programmes to bridge the gaps identified in the report.”
Among other recommendations is the extending of paid maternity up to six months to support the exclusive breastfeeding of babies, along with specific areas being created by employers within the workplace so “mothers can breastfeed their babies and / or express and store breast milk.”
It further recommends a campaign be developed that “encourages breastfeeding as opposed to bottle-feeding.”
An online petition has been launched as a result of the report’s suggestion of prolonging maternity leave and garnered around 1,500 signatures in 24 hours.
Ms. de Montaigne concluded: “We have a long way to go but there is no lack of enthusiasm or people in which to work on this.”